The schedule is now out. No back-to-back games, and a few with a 2 day break in between (so my wife won't hate me when I am watching what seemed to be a Pens game almost every night to her). Now that FSN Pittsburgh is no longer carrying these games, I hope you folks have Versus (the guy in my office that is as big a Pens fan as I am doesn't have it, so he is busy scouting out possibilities for how he is going to watch this series now).

These were the two hottest teams in the league down the stretch of the regular season.

Brother vs. Brother...Eric vs. Jordan.

A battle of young netminders...Ward vs. Fleury

Memories of injuries past...Orpik's check vs. Cole's neck

NFL Coach Allegiences...Tomlin's Pens vs. Cowher's Canes

Jigawatts

05-15-2009, 12:40 PM

Before the series even starts... allow me to complain.

I have Versus, so I'm cool. But I feel for the people who don't have it. I think the NHL
made a huge mistake in signing with Versus instead of ESPN. It's like they don't want
anybody to see this fantastic product. What are the details on the contract with Versus?
I'm hoping they wise up and go back to ESPN when the contract expires.

As far as the game, I don't know very much about the Canes other than Cam Ward is a
solid goalie and Staal is a Staal. :lol:

And look for me in the crowd Monday night. Mrs. Jigawatts and I + friends will be attending. :Beer

RuthlessBurgher

05-15-2009, 02:07 PM

Before the series even starts... allow me to complain.

I have Versus, so I'm cool. But I feel for the people who don't have it. I think the NHL
made a huge mistake in signing with Versus instead of ESPN. It's like they don't want
anybody to see this fantastic product. What are the details on the contract with Versus?
I'm hoping they wise up and go back to ESPN when the contract expires.

As far as the game, I don't know very much about the Canes other than Cam Ward is a
solid goalie and Staal is a Staal. :lol:

And look for me in the crowd Monday night. Mrs. Jigawatts and I + friends will be attending. :Beer

How will we be able to pick you out of the crowd? Will you be the one wearing white? :wink:

Jigawatts

05-15-2009, 02:14 PM

Before the series even starts... allow me to complain.

I have Versus, so I'm cool. But I feel for the people who don't have it. I think the NHL
made a huge mistake in signing with Versus instead of ESPN. It's like they don't want
anybody to see this fantastic product. What are the details on the contract with Versus?
I'm hoping they wise up and go back to ESPN when the contract expires.

As far as the game, I don't know very much about the Canes other than Cam Ward is a
solid goalie and Staal is a Staal. :lol:

And look for me in the crowd Monday night. Mrs. Jigawatts and I + friends will be attending. :Beer

How will we be able to pick you out of the crowd? Will you be the one wearing white? :wink:

Exactly. :mrgreen:

Discipline of Steel

05-15-2009, 07:21 PM

Before the series even starts... allow me to complain.

I have Versus, so I'm cool. But I feel for the people who don't have it. I think the NHL
made a huge mistake in signing with Versus instead of ESPN. It's like they don't want
anybody to see this fantastic product. What are the details on the contract with Versus?
I'm hoping they wise up and go back to ESPN when the contract expires.

As far as the game, I don't know very much about the Canes other than Cam Ward is a
solid goalie and Staal is a Staal. :lol:

And look for me in the crowd Monday night. Mrs. Jigawatts and I + friends will be attending. :Beer

I have to agree, not having Versus sux and the NHL sux for not getting the playoffs on ESPN, at least some of the games. Now, fans have to actively seek out a way to watch the games and viwership will be much less.

buckeyehoppy

05-17-2009, 07:41 PM

The NHL royally f---ed up when they didn't find a broader platform to put their televised product on other than Versus. They should have had a condition in the contract that stated that they could render the deal null and void based on the growth of the platform (i.e. the ability of Versus to get onto x number of cable systems).

ESPU probably stoned the NHL in negotiations and they probably felt that things like Texas Hold 'Em or the World Poker Tour were more important that the NHL.

FWIW, I glean very little of my sports info from ESPU anymore. The product just sucks and they have a fairly obvious bias toward certain sports (NBA; NECK, er, NASCAR; College FB and Hoops), certain teams (the Suckees; the Dead Sux; the Patophiles; the Cowqueens; among others) or, even certain players (Brett F---; BO, er, TO; Manny Being Manny; etc...among others).

The NHL needs to direct more game traffic to their own NHL Network and develop that to be their main broadcast outlet and get that onto the sports platforms of more cable/satellite systems. NHL Network already has the excellent coverage from Hockey Night In Canada from wire-to-wire every week during the season.

Now, I just recently got access to Versus this past January after several seasons w/o it. Believe me, I am relieved that I can finally watch games in my own home instead of feeding the beast that is the local sports bar and dealing with their f---tard managers begging to get a share of TVs to show the games.

But, I find it unacceptable that the NHL hasn't been able to force the hand of Versus to step up the pace of getting their product on the screen and into the living rooms of more American homes.

Hockey is the red-headed step-child of sports in this country. It is marketed and treated like a regional sport, even though the league has a footprint in every corner of the country. The NHL still has a lot of work to do to get their product in the mainstream...and signing their televised fortunes over to Versus appears to have been a mistaken busines decision that will only siphon away more audience.

Jigawatts

05-18-2009, 02:40 PM

On August 17, 2005, ESPN chose not to match OLN's three-year, US$200 million offer for the NHL's U.S. cable TV rights.[3] The NHL's deal with OLN parent Comcast also gives the company part ownership of a U.S. version of NHL Network, and distribution on all of its cable systems. Comcast also has the rights to simulcast out of market NHL games on its Comcast SportsNet stations. Both Comcast and the NHL have the right to void the final year of the contract.

During certain games of its first season covering the NHL, Versus simulcasted the CBC feed of NHL games, mostly those where teams from western Canada were at home, but now typically does its own production of any game selected for broadcast.

On January 28, 2008, Versus and the NHL extended the deal through the 2010-11 season.

:wft They extended the deal :?: :?: :?:

Does the NHL not want people to see their product? They've made more money short
term by signing with Versus, but it's hurting them in the long run.

OH well... back to tonights game.

GO PENS

RuthlessBurgher

05-18-2009, 03:22 PM

On August 17, 2005, ESPN chose not to match OLN's three-year, US$200 million offer for the NHL's U.S. cable TV rights.[3] The NHL's deal with OLN parent Comcast also gives the company part ownership of a U.S. version of NHL Network, and distribution on all of its cable systems. Comcast also has the rights to simulcast out of market NHL games on its Comcast SportsNet stations. Both Comcast and the NHL have the right to void the final year of the contract.

During certain games of its first season covering the NHL, Versus simulcasted the CBC feed of NHL games, mostly those where teams from western Canada were at home, but now typically does its own production of any game selected for broadcast.

On January 28, 2008, Versus and the NHL extended the deal through the 2010-11 season.

:wft They extended the deal :?: :?: :?:

Does the NHL not want people to see their product? They've made more money short
term by signing with Versus, but it's hurting them in the long run.

OH well... back to tonights game.

GO PENS

I think someone should have started a separate "Versus Sucks thread" for most of this stuff, but after tonight, we should have some actual Pens-Canes hockey to talk about instead of just crappy broadcasting rights deals.

Enjoy the game, tonight, Jiga. Don't wear your Hines Steeler jersey to the game. As the Pens try to blast pucks past Cam, we don't want to have any Ward jerseys in the stands during this round.

Jigawatts

05-18-2009, 03:38 PM

You're right Ruthless, I'm done talking about Versus here.

Nope, no Ward jersey tonight. I'm rolling with the Malkin long-sleeved shirt which will
most likely be covered up by my white out shirt. :Beer

Getting ready to leave work here in a few, go home to pick up Mrs. Jigawatts, and be
on our way. "It's a great day for hockey."

RuthlessBurgher

05-19-2009, 10:08 AM

That was the game that I was waiting for from Fleury all Washington series long. Sure he let that first goal somehow dribble in under his pads, but there were probably a half-dozen other great saves, stealing the game from the Canes. You can't blame him for the second goal when Carolina had a two man advantage and he only had a defenseman's stick because Staal's brother interfered with his goalie stick (even the Versus announcers kept stating how that should have been a penalty).

Jigawatts

05-19-2009, 12:47 PM

Awesome game. I'll have to watch the recording tomorrow, but from where I was sitting
it looked like M.A.F. had made great saves. They came out intense in the first period
scoring the first two goals. But it seemed to me like they put it in cruise control until later
in the third period.

I was very surprised to hear people complaining about Fleury's play as well as Hal Gill's.
Must have been some negative Nancy's from the Trib. :twisted:

Steelers sightings - Big Ben was in attendance as well as James Farrior. :tt1

RuthlessBurgher

05-19-2009, 01:19 PM

Awesome game. I'll have to watch the recording tomorrow, but from where I was sitting
it looked like M.A.F. had made great saves. They came out intense in the first period
scoring the first two goals. But it seemed to me like they put it in cruise control until later
in the third period.

I was very surprised to hear people complaining about Fleury's play as well as Hal Gill's.
Must have been some negative Nancy's from the Trib. :twisted:

Steelers sightings - Big Ben was in attendance as well as James Farrior. :tt1

Versus interviewed Ben. He said that he can't skate, but the announcers still thought he would make a good defenseman (jokingly). Did you personally see Ben and Farrior at Mellon (closer than 10 sections away, I mean)?

Jigawatts

05-19-2009, 02:01 PM

Awesome game. I'll have to watch the recording tomorrow, but from where I was sitting
it looked like M.A.F. had made great saves. They came out intense in the first period
scoring the first two goals. But it seemed to me like they put it in cruise control until later
in the third period.

I was very surprised to hear people complaining about Fleury's play as well as Hal Gill's.
Must have been some negative Nancy's from the Trib. :twisted:

Steelers sightings - Big Ben was in attendance as well as James Farrior. :tt1

Versus interviewed Ben. He said that he can't skate, but the announcers still thought he would make a good defenseman (jokingly). Did you personally see Ben and Farrior at Mellon (closer than 10 sections away, I mean)?

No, they just showed them on the screen. First they showed Ben. Not too many people
saw him at first. He didn't immediately see himself on there but as the ovation got louder
he looked and gave a big smile. Then they cut to Farrior. By then everyone was looking
at the screen and Farrior got a much louder ovation then Ben. I thought it would be
funny if Ben and Farrior were sitting together and they put them on the "kiss cam." :lol:

Also, we noticed two huge fellows sitting behind the Pens bench. One of them looked
like it could have been Timmons.

RuthlessBurgher

05-21-2009, 07:41 PM

Interesting stat (just brought up on the pre-game show):

In the last 5 series in which Carolina lost in game 1, they won all 5 series.

In the last 5 series in which Pittsburgh won in game 1, they won all 5 series.

Something's gotta give...

RuthlessBurgher

05-22-2009, 12:23 PM

I was expecting barn-burner type games like this during the Washington series since both teams have superstar offensive players (the closest was the dual hat trick game, but even then, there was only one other goal scored by everyone else), and expected more of a defensive struggle in this series by comparison. But, man, it sure was fun to see the floodgates open, particularly against Cam Ward, who was 12-2 in the games after a playoff loss in his career. Last year, Malkin's game seemed to shrink as the playoffs moved along (perhaps due to fatigue at such a long season that extended into June, unlike anything he has experienced before), but it looks like Geno is just starting to blossom...I thought it was insane when the announcers talking about it being Pittsburgh's first playoff hat trick since Straka a decade ago, forgetting about last series. Whoops. The big guns are scoring, the roles players are scoring too, Kunitz gets of the schneid, and all is well in Penguinland.

RuthlessBurgher

05-24-2009, 12:47 AM

This team is showing that they are still hungry. They did not allow themselves to become complacent with a 2-0 series lead. Now we have to put these "Caniacs" out of their misery on their home ice on Tuesday. Malkin was once again a buzzsaw with his 6th straight multi-point playoff game (new team record, topping Mario's five straight games in each of the Cup years). He has 6 goals and 3 assists in this series, which is only 3 games old. That's an average of 2 goals (and 3 points) per game...wow. I loved when they showed the stat of the top 5 players in league history for points per game in the playoffs (minimum 40 games played). Sid and Geno were behind Gretzky and Lemieux and ahead of Messier. Is that legendary company or what?

Jigawatts

05-26-2009, 01:32 PM

LETS GO PENS!!!

This message was brought to you by Dunkin Donuts.

RuthlessBurgher

05-26-2009, 08:19 PM

LETS GO PENS!!!

This message was brought to you by Dunkin Donuts.

http://www.starstore.com/acatalog/Simpsons_Donuts-01.jpg

Save me a Boston Cream.

If the puck were a jelly donut, not a single drop of red would have touched the ice on that "900 Thread Count soft" Talbot goal.

Jigawatts

05-26-2009, 09:59 PM

I didn't want to jinx it earlier, but it's time to bring out the brooms. :Beer :Beer :Beer

RuthlessBurgher

05-27-2009, 01:36 PM

At first, I was ticked off when I saw Cowher there wearing the red polo shirt. Then I remembered that it was a conference championship elimination game, and I felt much better. Pittsburghers realize that Cowher isn't the top choice to bring out to sound the siren in a conference championship elimination game. Good job blowing another conference championship game, Coach.

He says that he is an Eastern Conference guy and would root for whichever team made it to the Stanley Cup Finals from the East, eh? Sorry, Bill, but you can't have it both ways...the Pens bandwagon is officially full...no room for sellout former NFL coaches here. Take your red shirt to Detroit and root for the Wings. Your greatest professional accomplishment took place in Detroit anyway, right? That is just as good of a reason for a guy born and raised in Pittsburgh to root for the Red Wings over the Penguins as was a Pittsburgh guy rooting for the Hurricanes over the Penguins just because he went to college in North Carolina and his wife wanted to buy a house there.

You forgot your roots, Bill, so consider yourself shunned by true Yinzers everywhere (you know, the ones who moved from Pittsburgh to Phoenix but remained Penguin fans not Coyotes fans, the ones who moved from Pittsburgh to Tampa but remained Penguin fans not Lightning fans, etc.).